Weather Balloons Provide Critical Data in Hurricane Season
The National Weather Service in North Carolina launches weather balloons to gather essential atmospheric data for accurate hurricane forecasting. Ryan Ellis highlights the importance of these launches, noting only two sites in the state. Increased launches during severe weather provide more data, crucial for public safety decisions. However, upcoming federal budget cuts may reduce balloon launches across the country, raising concerns over local forecast accuracy this hurricane season.
MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. — During hurricane season, the work of meteorologists at the National Weather Service becomes especially crucial. At their Newport/Morehead City office, they are one of only two locations in North Carolina that launch weather balloons twice daily, gathering important data for accurate forecasting.
According to Ryan Ellis, the science and operations officer, these balloon launches resemble a carefully coordinated dance. “The idea is all balloons launch at the same exact time around the world. And then that data is fed into what we know as the forecast models,” he explained. He has worked in Morehead City for six years, emphasizing the significance of these launches.
Each morning, the team fills a hydrogen balloon and sets it free. Attached is a radiosonde, which collects crucial atmospheric data — humidity, wind speed and direction, pressure, and temperature. “It’s also going to take the dew point,” Ellis added, highlighting the breadth of data gathered with each launch.
Ellis noted that with only two balloons launched in North Carolina — one in Morehead City and another in Greensboro — data gaps can occur. “If you miss one of those balloons, you have a really big gap in your data,” he said. Nearby locations like Virginia and South Carolina also play a part in this statewide weather observation network.
As the balloon rises, it may take about an hour and a half to climb to 100,000 feet before it bursts. Afterward, the weather service team utilizes the balloon data along with surface observations to create forecasts. During severe weather events, these launches may occur more frequently to refine storm predictions.
“The more data points you can get, the better off your model data is going to be,” Ellis remarked. He stressed that reduced balloon data can degrade forecasts, particularly when weather conditions change swiftly. This continuous data stream plays a vital role in aiding emergency managers to make high-stakes decisions, such as evacuating areas like the Outer Banks.
The data collected feeds into computer models, which helps the Weather on the 1s team determine storm steering currents. However, as the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season approaches, there are fewer balloon launches across the country compared to the previous year, primarily due to federal budget cuts and staffing shortages at the National Weather Service.
While suspended launch sites are largely distant from North Carolina, missing data could still impact local forecasts. Meteorologists warn that upper atmospheric conditions over the western and central United States can affect weather in the Carolinas within days, which is crucial for tracking hurricanes. The lack of data has raised concerns about how it may affect forecasting accuracy this hurricane season.
In summary, the National Weather Service’s balloon launches are essential for hurricane forecasting accuracy. With only two launch sites in North Carolina, and reduced countrywide balloon releases, meteorologists are growing concerned about potential data gaps. These balloons provide key atmospheric information necessary to predict storm paths, particularly as the 2025 hurricane season begins. Accurate forecasts rely heavily on continuous data flow, and any reduction in this could hinder timely public safety decisions.
Original Source: spectrumlocalnews.com
